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Purdue's Sustainability Council meets regularly to advise the administration on water and energy issues, and plans to address purchasing, waste management, and recycling. The council includes representation from facilities, housing and food services, faculty, and students. To unify and coordinate sustainability efforts, an assistant director of grounds and sustainability was hired.

A class completed an emissions inventory and considered how Purdue could achieve carbon neutrality. Major energy efficiency projects, including replacing windows and retrofitting lights, are underway in five large campus buildings. A small photovoltaic panel has been installed at the Beck Agronomy Center.

Dining services sources food from 13 local producers. Organic food, including milk and cheese, is available, as well as fair trade coffee. Dining services offers a discount for using a reusable bottle and has begun switching to compostable cups. A comprehensive recycling program diverts 24 percent of the university's waste. Yard waste is composted and used as topsoil.

Purdue will follow the governor's executive order on energy efficiency, which mandates that buildings must achieve maximum energy efficiency. Compliance may be demonstrated by a LEED Silver rating. A new mechanical engineering building addition will be LEED-certified.

Purdue has a flex-fuel vehicle fleet that runs on an E10 or E85 blend. The university also has four hybrid vehicles with eight more on order. Bus travel is subsidized for faculty, students, and staff, and there is a free university shuttle bus. A sustainable, pedestrian-friendly campus is part of Purdue's master plan.